Type 1 [T1] combat is a type of textual combat designed with logic, precision and detail in mind. It’s a turn-based style, allowing every player involved equal time and space to post their character’s move.

There are four types of ‘turn’ that a player can make in a T1 fight: Prep, Attack, Defense and Connection.

The fight is split in to 'tiers' which often consist of some/all of the aforementioned turns. A tier begins when a prep or attack is posted and ends when either a successful defense or connect is posted.

Combat Actions:

Spoiler:

PreppingA 'prep' is a turn in which the character prepares to launch their attack. Some special abilities require a certain amount of prep's before an attack can be successfully launched. As a player, it is your responsibility to be aware of which abilities require preps and then to adhere to these rules. Missing a single required prep will probably result in the combat judges voiding the applicable tier of the fight.

A prepping move should state clearly what ability is being prepared for use and provide some imaginative description of this process, whether it be an elaborate ritual or a intense concentration etc.

Special abilities that do not require maintained focus/concentration can be combined with another turn. For instance, whilst a mage is launching a non-magical attack with his sword, he might be muttering an incantation in preparation for using a special ability later. Specifics must still be provided.

If the character receives damage between the preparation and the attack, the most recent prep will be cancelled.

AttackingAn attacking move should be a detailed account of everything vital to the attack: the stance of the attacker, the momentum or direction of the attack, the method of the attack, and it should hint at the desired outcome.

An attacking move must be comprised of one main action, or series of synchronized actions [within the realms of logic please].

Example:

Elario_Chinglovebraces his right foot against the ground in front of him, screeching like a particularly irritated banshee as he sends his staff sailing down vertically for Crispian_Nohamar's cranium, relying on the weight of the sturdy oaken staff in addition to his own strength for the momentum needed to crack Crispian_Nohamar's skull.

The above move, although containing information about smaller movements of the attacker’s body is centered on one central movement, that of the downward swing of his staff.

DefendingLike an attack, a defensive move must allow for the defender’s stance, method, and desired outcome. It’s no good simply stating that the character miraculously dodges the attack – it must be a detailed account of how this daring escape is achieved.

The defender must be consistent with the position they were in before the attack took place. For instance, if our defender [Crispian_Nohamar] was standing directly in front of Elario_Chinglove with his hands behind his back and his eyes on the ground when Elario swung his staff, that is the stance he must attempt to defend from. However, before he defends he must be seen to somehow acknowledge the attack. After all, he wouldn’t know to defend if he didn’t know of the threat to begin with.

Example:

Crispian_Nohamar instantly distracted from his train of thought by Elario_Chinglove's strangely effeminate screeching, he catches a glimpse of the attacker just in time to save his own bacon. His head and upper body reflexively tilt to the left, causing what may have been a fatal blow to the head to land painfully but not mortally upon his leather-armor clad shoulder.

In the above example, Crispian’s player acknowledges that his character was not in the best defensive stance to begin with, and as such appreciates that his character cannot completely evade the attack. Considering Crispian wasn't expecting the attack, it would be unrealistic of him to come out of it without taking a blow of some sort.

If Crispian had managed to completely evade the attack, the player of Elario would not be allowed to perform a connecting move and would instead have to RP the resultant events.

Example:

Elario_Chinglovebends his knees in a last ditch attempt at keeping his balance as his staff strikes air and continues towards the ground under its own powerful momentum, the fine polished oak smacking impotently against the flagstones.

However, as Crispian did not completely evade the attack, Elario's player gets to perform a connecting move:

ConnectingA connecting move is a move that confirms the attacker’s success. If the defender was unable to completely evade the attack, the attacker is expected to spend a turn describing the results of their attack.

A connection must describe the initial results of the connection and nothing more about it's effects upon the defending character. For example, Elario’s player could not state that the staff whacked Crispian’s shoulder and then bounced up into the side of his head, as that would be two separate attacks [albeit maybe not both intentional].

It is very important not to ‘auto’ in a connection. Although you can state where the blow landed based on the information offered in the preceding attack and defense moves, you cannot state the exact amount of damage dealt upon another character. Such details are reliant upon the information in the previous moves. For instance, a powerful downward thrust of Elario’s staff would obviously cause some bruising and internal injuries when it hits Crispian’s shoulder [although if Crispian is wearing armor of some sort the damage may be decreased], whereas a sword would have cut the flesh and caused bleeding. A connection may also contain preparation for the next attack, such as a change in stance. Usual Prep rules apply.

Example:

Elario_Chinglove tenses his shoulders to absorb the shock of his staff striking down heavily upon Crispian_Nohamar's right shoulder. He lets the staff glance off the shoulder after hitting and swings it back up over his head in readiness for another attack, a victorious smirk mocking Crispian_Nohamar's misfortune.

In the above post, Elario's attack clearly connects, but it is never stated the exact level of damage that is caused. From this point on Crispian's player is expected to RP the character according to the damage which he believes would have occurred. In this instance Crispian is wearing leather armour which may just save his shoulder from being dislocated, but there would still realistically be heavy bruising. As such, Crispian should have less use of his right arm until the wound his healed.

There is another type of move that is often used in T1, and it is a variation on the Defensive move:Counter-AttackRather than simply evade an attack, the defendant may block or counter it with one similarly fluent move.

Example:

Crispian_Nohamarhad been expecting an attack, and had his trusty dagger ready behind his back the entire time. Upon the thrust of Elario's foot, he bends at the knees, his left arm flying up to catch the blow on its bronze bracer whilst his right arm swings round -- dagger in hand -- to swipe horizontally at Elario's stomach.

The above move would require great skill on the part of the defendant, and therefore only a character who has an established history of combat prowess could realistically pull it off. Most counter-attacks require a similar level of combat skill, as the combatant is performing different simultaneous actions. As long as those actions can be realistically performed at the same time [i.e. one arm can't realistically be in two places at the same time], the move is valid.

It is then up to Elario to decide whether he will defend, counter-attack or simply take the hit. Considering his staff was already sailing down towards Crispian with some momentum, it will probably still cause some damage to Crispian's arm, but a move of that ferocity on Elario's part will have left his midriff defenceless [aside from any armor he might be wearing] as his arms are engaged in holding the staff. As such, Crispian's dagger would most likely strike as intended.

It's not uncommon for both parties of a fight to take some damage, and it is often considered the honourable thing to accept at least some of youropponents hits [if they're realistic].

As you can see, a tier does not necessarily only consist of three moves. Tiers may overlap or extend beyond the original three basic moves. A T1 combat session ends when there are no more attacks to be made, either because one or more sides of the fight have died, one or more sides of the fight have escaped, one or more sides of the fight have been incapacitated or both parties have reached a non-violent conclusion.========================================================Some basic ground rules:A.No god-modding. This includes but is not limited to: 1. Ignoring damage. 2. Auto-hitting/ Forcing damage. 3. Metagaming.4. No teleporting, no mind reading, no use of powers not clearly listed in the character's biography.5. No use of equipment not clearly listed in the character's biography.6. Powers cannot be activated in the introduction posts and require a minimum of at least one post to charge.

B.Be somewhere in the realm of logic in your attack and defense posts, and describe what you are doing or what is occurring in your post.

C.Write using standard forms of grammar. This includes but is not limited to:1. Proper Paragraphs structure, this means NO wall of text.2. No Text type, i.e. ur for you're, et al.3. Three-day post limit.4. A minimum of one paragraph is required, no maximum limit but keep it reasonable.5. No colored or size-altered text, all posts must be in an easily readable font and in black.6. If there is no response to an action, said action may be completed after three-days to the full effects intended.

If there is no response from one or the other after three days, without notice, or prior arrangements and if there have been two posts from both participants (four posts total), the match will be judged and a winner will be determined based on the existing posts and the effort put forth.

Character Matchups, will be decided by the two players involved, this includes mutual agreement on match rules, such as "No Magic" "Melee only" "No Guns" and the like.

Character sheets should be posted in the OOC thread that will be created when a match is agreed upon.

If any disputes arise in a match, the three "Judges" will be called upon. As of right now, the three judges are:Tuv (Until GrayWatch's time frees up)ChaoswizkidOrc

When the match is over, the two players involved agree on a winner, and a Judge records the wins/losses for each player. If the two players cannot agree on a result, a Judge will step in and mediate.

Last edited by Tuv on Mon Jun 22, 2009 4:13 pm; edited 1 time in total

Your character sheet can be any format you want, and have anything in it you want, but a name, description, list of equipment, and list of abilities and prep-times is required, almost by the very nature of RP, and this system.